Last night at the Mount Baker Theater in Bellingham, Washington, Peter invited all the children in the audience up on stage to sing it with him as the closing song for the first set. Then considering the audience demographics, he added, “And if you’re a parent, or grandparent, come up with your child. Or if you’re a child at heart.” The audience chuckled. At least fifty people trickled up the steps to join him on stage, from pre-schoolers to elders.
I felt tears sliding down my cheek as he held the microphone to a 6-year-old boy who sang solo, “Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea, And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honahlee.” Then he held the mic to a little girl who sang it, to a middle-aged woman who sang it, then to a man in his thirties who sang it, and to several others who sang solo to the enraptured audience. And of course, for the rest of the song, the audience was singing with him. Peter encouraged that throughout the concert. “Together they would travel on a boat with billowed sail.”
Peter Yarrow was himself. Calm, rich with experience, and experiences. He marched for civil rights in the March on Washington, D.C. in 1963; he was at the bedside of Pete Seeger in 2014 as he was dying; he founded Operation Respect to reduce violence and bullying in schools, and as part of the iconic trio, Peter, Paul & Mary, released something like thirty albums.
Calm, funny, relaxed, sincere, heart-touching, Peter made no attempt to break new ground. He sang what people loved and were moved by. Folks songs, songs by Hedy West, John Denver, Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, as well as gems by he and Paul Stookey. He told stories nearly as much as he sang. He threw out invitations, and challenges, to build bridges and community. He was himself, doing what fulfills him.
This was about legacy. He no longer needs to prove anything to anyone. In his relaxed manner, his generosity seemed endless: he talked with scads of people, posed with countless folks for pictures, signed books and CDs. The concert went nearly three hours.
A legacy of the strength of music, of respecting diversity, of building community and relationships, of honoring our military personnel, and of speaking up for what’s right. A legacy of hope.
“Light one candle for all we believe in, That anger not tear us apart.”
Joy
July 1, 2018 at 2:10 amthanks for sharing this…………….good memories of Pete!!
Mary
July 1, 2018 at 7:03 pmThanks for reading, Joy.
Michele Ohge
July 1, 2018 at 5:36 amWonderful review Mary! I hope the the Gen-Xers & the millennials are writing songs that are stories and that 50 yrs from now that their grand & great-grandchildren are singing them. And that they still sing about Puff.
Mary
July 1, 2018 at 7:04 pmThank you, Michele! I hope so, too. Best~
Char Seawell
July 1, 2018 at 2:33 pmYou totally captured the spirit of what this evening must have been like… soul enriching! Wish we could have joined you. Another great piece of writing.
Mary
July 1, 2018 at 7:05 pmChar, blessings upon you. Merci bien.
Jill Snow
July 2, 2018 at 4:39 pmI wish we would have joined you! Your description sounds like I thought the performance might be, only better! We need more authentic love in this world and in this time. Thanks for sharing.
Mary
July 2, 2018 at 8:07 pmThank you, Jill. You are sure right.
Meg Philp
July 3, 2018 at 8:20 amSounds like an uplifting concert, Mary. How marvellous to witness such kindness in Peter Y. Singing together and music surely are good for the soul! Cheers Meg
Mary
July 3, 2018 at 9:13 pmThanks Meg. Cheers to you~
Beth Felker
July 9, 2018 at 12:13 pmGreat description of a grand event !!! Thanks for letting readers join you !
Mary
July 9, 2018 at 8:07 pmThank you, Beth~